Mussels Unsafe, Officials Warn

Health officials warned residents not to eat mussels and other mollusks harvested from local waters because the bivalves contain high levels of toxins.

The annual quarantine begins today and ends Oct. 31.

Mollusks such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops contain elevated levels of toxin and could poison those who eat them without first removing the digestive organs, said Mike Spurgeon, deputy agency director of the county Health Care Agency.